"Junior Brother, there’s no need to worry. The matter of Yan Zhi Mountain is already known to our sect. If it’s lost, it’s lost, it’s no big deal. Just focus on healing; the sect will have important roles for you when you return."
If it’s lost, it’s lost...
Tang Tong pursed his lips,
"May I ask Senior Brother, how many of the brothers who went out this time have returned? Besides Jian Jia and me, is there anyone else? Have they been settled elsewhere?"
Ding Guang knew that the ’brothers’ he referred to probably didn’t include those from our sect, yet he wasn’t angry. He just said slowly,
"From this trial, only two survived."
Tang Tong didn’t believe it,
"What about Tie Dan! Tie Dan isn’t dead yet! You’ve seen his spine! He can even kill a Demon God! You should find one more..."
"Junior Brother Tang!"
Ding Guang held Tang Tong’s shoulder, staring at him, and whispered,
"This time, Junior Sister Shen killed the Demon God and previously made contributions at Three Constellations. If her injuries heal, she might even have the chance to participate in Cloud Platform Sword Fighting and join the Inner Sect."
Tang Tong was puzzled, looked around to see only the two of them in the room, and whispered back,
"Why are you speaking so softly?"
Ding Guang glared at him, twisted Tang Tong’s arm and pulled him to his side, nearly causing him to cry out in pain,
"You! Being able to become a disciple of the Sword Sect is already an exceptional grace. She! Has a chance to join the Sword Sect.
In this outer mountain trial, only two survived! Do you understand!"
Tang Tong’s arm bled from the twist, cold sweat on his forehead. He clenched his teeth and stared at Ding Guang, but eventually nodded,
"...Yes, disciple remembers."
Ding Guang released Tang Tong but still stared at him, repeating.
"Guangxia Mountain Tie Dan! Receive the Sect Leader’s Dharma Decree!"
Tie Dan sat in meditation in the snow, startled by the call, looked up to the Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator in the sky, and realized it was already bright. At this moment, the Sword Immortal stood in the morning light, dressed gloriously, with a treasure sword at his side, surrounded by sword light that was so dazzling it was hard to see his face.
Only then did Tie Dan come to his senses and found himself frozen in the snow. Gradually reacting, it turned out that during the process of sword casting and body refinement, he had been in meditation for so long that the blizzard had frozen him into an ice block. These people had traced his whereabouts, using sword light to split the ice and snow and awaken him.
The Sword Immortal roared,
"Audacious! Insolent! Disrespectful! The Sect Leader’s Dharma Decree is here! Yet you do not kneel!"
Tie Dan glanced at him indifferently.
If he hadn’t been frozen solid and his meridians were powerless, his Taoist Body not yet restored, and his bones not fully grown, he might have already thrust his sword over.
"Revolting! Revolting! You from the outer mountain! Dare not accept the Dharma Decree!"
The man drew his treasure sword, glaring at Tie Dan, gritting his teeth,
"Tie Dan! I ask you! Where is Liu Xiaoliu!"
Tie Dan coldly replied,
"Audacious! How dare you still cover for people from the Demon Sect!
Guangxia Mountain Sword Boy Tie Dan! The sect sent you to train at Yan Zhi Mountain, yet you delayed! Causing the Priest Garden’s fall to the Demon Tide!
The Mystic Sect Leader decreed, we at the Cloud Platform formed an alliance with Three Constellations to resist demons! You disregarded the bigger picture, recklessly killing innocents!
Now you even conspire with the Demon Sect! Betraying the sect and master! Harboring sinister intentions! Treasonous!
Today, we are here on behalf of the Sect Leader to execute justice! To execute you, this disloyal and unrighteous traitor of the Sword Sect!"
That person cursed Tie Dan incessantly, but did not make a move.
Tie Dan was used to being yelled at to be killed, still unable to move from his injuries, and since he was caught, he didn’t bother to argue.
"If you’re going to kill, then kill, less talking."
But that Sword Immortal gritted his teeth, huffing and glaring at Tie Dan. Yet strangely, he didn’t attack.
Clearly just a disciple with no strength to fight and severely injured...
Tie Dan let out a chuckle,
"First time assassinating someone from the same sect, feeling ashamed?"
The Sword Immortal roared furiously to the sky,
"I’m not like you! Everything I do is for the Sword Sect!!"
It seemed like he was stirred by this sneer, making some kind of decision, and pinched the formula simultaneously, casting a rain of swords!
Suddenly, swords were everywhere, rushing toward him.
Tie Dan closed his eyes.
Tie Dan opened his eyes.
Cold winds still blew fiercely, and the white snow-covered icefield lay before him, the sky filled with dissipated sword light.
The Sword Cultivator’s body was severed, the body in the snow, the head in front of him.
An ordinary appearance, seemingly unfamiliar.
But looking at it, he seemed to heave a sigh of relief.
Then, Tie Dan raised his head, seeing a Sword Immortal standing before him.
Towering nine feet, with sword-like brows extending to the temples, white hair frosted over, five streams of divine Yao Sword Light revolved like wheels behind his head.
His eyes gleamed with star-like radiance, sparkling as if two treasure swords piercing straight toward Tie Dan.
This was the Ninth Peak Sword Master, Yao Guang Po Jun Sword Lord.
"What exactly is going on with you, Guangxia Mountain."
Tie Dan glanced at him.
Damn, I still want to ask you, what’s going on with your Nine Yin Mountain...